Apparatus for mounting basketball backboards



Oct 29, 1940 E. G. osNEss APPARATUS FOR MOUNTING BASKETBALL BACKBOARDS Filed Feb. 19, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l nlllillllll: h, Il,

INVENTOR ATTOHIEl VS Ot. 29, 1940. Y E OSNESS 2,219,528

APPARATUS FOR MOUNTING BASKET-BALL BACKBOARDS Filed Feb. 19, 1940 2 sheets-sheet a [dwz/f7 0527666 INVENTOR ATT ORNEV Patented oct. 29,1940 n' 2,219,528l

UNITED vSTATES v,Pivrlizlvr OFFICE- APPARATUS FOR MOUNTING BASKETBALL BACKBOARDS l Edwin G. Osness, Billings, Mont. Application February 19, 1940,'seria1Nc. 319,765 `s claims. (o1. 27a-1.5)

This invention relates to apparatus for mountf guide pulleys and the connection of oneof the ing basketball backboards and has for an obcables to one of the telescopic rod supports ofthe ject to provide apparatus of this character adaptbackboard.

y ed to so mount the backboard in front of a stage Figure 7 is a detail perspective View of one of 5 proscenium that it can be easily moved upward to the anchor bolts for pivotally securing-the brace clear the opening. frame to the proscenium. A further object is to provide apparatus of this Figure 8 is a detail perspective View showing type having an elbow action brace frame adapted the end of one of the bars forming theelbow joint l A to permit the backboard to be raised to clear the in the brace frame.

l stage proscenium opening or lowered to opera` Referring now to the drawings in which like tive position. characters of reference designatesimilar parts A further object is to provide apparatus ofthis in the various views, Il] designates a basketball character having a counterbalance for holding backboard, preferably of laminated structure, as

4. the backboard in raised position when not in use. best shown in Figure 3, and having on the rear yn A` further object is to'provide apparatus of this side thereof a frame il of the same rectangular 1'5` character including a safety device adaptedV to shape as the backboard. The backboard is prevent both the counterbalance and the backequipped on the front with the usual basket supboard from falling to the floor in case the cable port I2. breaks. The backboard mounting apparatus comprisn A further object is to provide apparatus of this ingthe subject matter of this invention includes 2'0 character which will be formed of a few strong Y a pair of verticallydisposed-telescoping rods I3, simple and durable parts, which will be inexeach including an upper tubular rod Iland a pensiveto manufacture, and which will not easlower rod I5 slidable into and out of the upper ily get out of order. rod. As best shown in Figure 3, the' lower rod'I5 With the above and other objects in view the is secured to a respective side ofthe backboard 2'5" invention consists of certain novel details of conby a bolt IE which' is passed through the backstruction and combinations of parts hereinafter board and through the rod. A spacing sleeve I1 fully described and claimed," it being understood is disposed on the bolt between the backboard that various modifications may be resorted to and the lower rod.

33 within the scope of the appended claims without The upper rod I4, as best shown in Figure 2, 35@ departing from the spirit or sacricingany of the passes between two beams i8 of the ceiling strucadvantages of the invention. k ture I9 of the building, and is bolted to the beams In the accompanying drawings forming a part by a pair of bolts 2i) passed through the beams on of this speciiication: each side of the upper rod I4, as best shown in 35 Figure 1 is a cross sectional View of a portion Figure 1. Upperand lower stop collars 2l and '35' of a stage proscenium showing a basketball 22 are disposedon the upper rod I4, the'upper backboard mounting `apparatus constructed `in v stop collar resting upon the upper .edges of the accordance with the invention, in side elevation. beams and the lower stop collar bearing against Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the the ceiling I9.

proscenium showing the backboard mounting ap- The upper end of the upper rod I4 is engaged paratus in front elevation. between a pair of beams 23 which rest at theends Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on a bar 24, best shown in Figure 2, secured to on the line 3-3 of Figure l showing the brace the wall 25 of the building above the proscenium` frame of the backboard and showing one of the 26, near the loO 21. A 1001i 23 iS passed through anchoring bolts of the frame.

Figure 4 is a detail vertical sectional view taken beams, as best shown in Figure 1. on the line 4-4 of Figure 1 showing the safety The lower rodsl5 of both ltelescoping rods I3 device for preventing the apparatus from falling are braced by a pair of crossed braces 29 of anto the floor in case the cable breaks. guiar cross section. When the lower rods I5 are 50 Figure 5 is a detail vertical sectional View taken telescoped into the upper rods I4 the backboard 50 on the line 5-5 of Figure 1 showing the counter- I0 will be raised to upper position to clear the balance and its connections with beams of the opening of the proscenium 2li. When the lower building. rods I5 are lowered to extended position below Figure 6 is a detail cross sectional View taken the upper rods i4 the backboard Ill will be disi the upper end of the rod l and through both 215 on the line 6-6 of Figure 1 showing oneL of the posed in operative position below the prosceniurn. 55

the ends, secured to the tube by strap rings 43.

'I'he brace frame comprises parallel side members 30, each formed of a pair of overlapping arms 3| and 32 of angular cross section. The upper arm 3I is provided with a cut-away portion 33 at its lower end, as best shown in Figure 1, which end is overlapped by the upper end of the lower arm 32. A pivot pin 34 is passed through the overlapping ends of the arms to permit elbow motion, as shown by dotted lines in Figure 1. The lower end of the lower arm is pivotally connected to the lower rod I of the respective telescoping rod I3 by a pivot pin 35. The upper end of the upper arm is pivotally connected by a pivot pin 36 to a flat head 3l formed on the end of a bolt 38, best shown in Figure '7. The bolt 31 is engaged through the wall 25 of the building to pivotally anchor the respective side member of the brace frame to the building. A pair of crossed braces 39, of angular cross section, are secured at the ends to the side members of the brace frame, as best shown in Figure 2, to reinforce the members against spreading apart.

The counterbalance .comprises an elongated tube 40, best shown in Figure 5, which is closed at both ends. The tube is provided with opening 4I in the top side through which sand or other ballast may be inserted in the tube to weight the tube, as best shown in Figure 1. The tube is provided with a pair of sheaves 42 near The counterbalancing weight is suspendedfrom the beams 23 by a pair of cables 44 which are passed through respective sheaves 42 and secured at one end to respective beams 23 by bolts 45. The cables are trained over respective sheaves 46 disposed between each respective pair of beams 23 and secured to the latter by a pair of bolts 41, as best shown in Figure 5. From thence, the cables 44 are trained downwardly through respective upper tubular rods I4 of the telescoping rods I3 and terminally connected to the upper ends of respective lower rods I5 by bolts 48, as best shown in Figure 4.

When the side members of the brace frame 3B are in full line position shown in Figure 1, the weight 40 has a tendency to pull upward the lower end of the lower arms 32.k This is resisted by the overlapping lower portion of the upper arms 3| so that the backboard I is rmly held in operative position. When the elbow joint is broken, as shown by dotted lines, the lower arms 32 will engage in the cut-away edges 33 of the upper arms 3l, at the limit of movement of the joint, so that the weight will hold the backboard raised to upper position above the proscenium. 26.

Bq now referring to Figure 4, it will be seen that a sleeve 49 is welded, or otherwise secured, to the upper end of the lower rod I5 of each telescoping rod I3. Also a sleeve 5U is welded, or otherwise secured, to the lower end of the upper tubular rod I4 of each telescoping rod. In case the cable 44 breaks the lower rods I5, carrying the backboard I0, will gravitate until the sleeves 49 engage the sleeves 5i! and prevent further gravitating movement. Thus the rods and backboard are prevented from falling to the floor of the stage in case the cables 44 break.

A pair of auxiliary safety cables 5I are secured at the upper ends to the beams 23 and at the lower ends to thel strap rings 43 to check the counter weight in case the main cables 44 break.

Since the operation of the parts have been described as a description of the parts progressed, it is thought that the operation of the invention will be fully understood Without further explanation.

What is claimed is: l

l. Basketball backboard suspension apparatus comprising the combination with a stage proscenium and the building structure above the proscenium, of a backboard, vertically telescoping frame rods connected at the lower ends to the backboard and connected at the upper ends to the building structure above the proscenium, an elbow jointed brace frame adapted to fold upwardly at the joint, said frame being pivotally connected to the rods at the backboard and being pivotally connected to the building structure above the proscenium opening, the elbow joint of said frame permitting the backboard to be e1evated to released position above the proscenium opening when the frame rods are telescoped and permitting the backboard to be lowered to operative position below the proscenium when the frame rods are extended, and a counterbalance means connected to the frame rods and connected to the building structure above the proscenium for holding the backboard in either lowered operative position or in raised inoperative position.

2. Basket ball backboard suspension apparatus comprising, the combination with a stage proscenium and the building structure above the proscenium, of vertically disposed frame rods, each comprising an upper tubular member fixed to the building structure above the proscenium and a lower member telescoping into the upper member and connected to the backboard, a brace frame including longitudinal members having elbow joints adapted to fold upwardly, said brace frame being pivotally connected to the lower members of the frame rods at the backboard and being pivotally connected to the building structure above the proscenium opening, sheaves connected to the building structure above the proscenium, a counterbalance weight, sheaves connected to the counterbalance weight, and cables connected at one end to the building structure above the proscenium and trained through said sheaves, the other ends of the cables being connected to the lower members of the frame rods, said weight holding the elbow joints of the brace frame in either normal or in folded position to respectively hold the backboard in lowered operative position below the proscenium when the rame rods are extended or in raised inoperative position above the proscenium opening when the frame rods are telescoped.

3. Basketball backboard suspension apparatus comprising the combination with a stage proscenium and the building structure above the proscenium, of a backboard, vertically telescoping frame rods connected at the lower ends to the backboard and connected at the upper ends to the building structure above the proscenium, a brace frame including parallel side members, each formed of upper and lower arms, pivotally connected together, the upper arm being provided with a cut-away portion at its lower end adjacent the pivot, the upper end of the lower arm overlapping the cut-away portion and extending beyond the pivot, said overlapping upper end yieldably holding the `upper and lower arms in alinement, the upper portion of the lower arm rocking into said cut-away portion to permit the arms to fold upwardly and form an elbow joint at the pivot, pivots connecting the lower arms to the frame rods at the backboard, pivots connecting the upper arms to the building structure above the proscenium opening,A Jthe elbow joints of said arms permitting the backboard to' be elevated to inoperative position above the prosceniu-m opening when the frame rods are telescoped and permitting the backboard to be lowered to operative position below the proscenium when the frame rods are extended, and a counter-v balance means connected tothe frame rods and connected to the building structure above the prosoenium for holding the backboard inlowered operative position when said arms of the brace frame are in alineinent, said counterbalance means holding the backboard in raised inoperative position above the proscenium. opening when said arms of the brace frame are folded upwardly at the elbow joints.

EDWIN G. OSNESS. 

